The wait around CAT 2025 is slowly coming to an end. After days of speculation and constant checking of official websites, IIM Kozhikode has released the CAT 2025 final answer key on the official portal iimcat.ac.in. With this step completed, the focus has now shifted completely to the CAT 2025 result and scorecard release, which is expected very soon..
For lakhs of MBA aspirants across India, this phase is crucial. The final answer key locks the evaluation process, meaning no more changes will be made to the answers. From here on, it’s all about results, percentiles, and shortlisting.
CAT 2025: Key Highlights at a Glance
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 |
| Conducting IIM | IIM Kozhikode |
| Exam Date | 30 November 2025 |
| Final Answer Key Status | Released |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
| Result Status | Expected soon |
| Courses Offered | MBA / PGDM |
CAT 2025 Final Answer Key: What Exactly Happened?
The provisional answer key and response sheet were released earlier in December. Candidates were allowed to raise objections against any question or answer they felt was incorrect.
Here’s how the objection process turned out:
| Objection Details | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Total objections raised | 187 |
| Objections accepted | 1 |
| Objections rejected | Majority |
| Impact on evaluation | Minimal |
Since only one objection was accepted, the final answer key remains almost the same as the provisional one. This gives candidates a fairly accurate idea of their expected scores.
Why the Final Answer Key Is Important
The final answer key is more than just a document. It plays a major role in the next steps of the CAT process.
Here’s why it matters:
- It confirms the final correct answers
- Scores are calculated only using this version
- No further challenges are allowed
- Percentile calculation begins after this
- Result preparation starts immediately
Once the final key is out, the result usually follows within a few days.
CAT 2025 Result Date: When Can You Expect It?
While IIMs have not officially announced the result date yet, past trends suggest that CAT 2025 results are likely to be declared in the last week of December 2025.
Expected Result Timeline (Based on Previous Years)
| Year | Answer Key Date | Result Date |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2023 | Mid-Dec | 21 Dec |
| CAT 2024 | Mid-Dec | 22 Dec |
| CAT 2025 | 17 Dec | 22–24 Dec (Expected) |
Candidates are advised to regularly check iimcat.ac.in for official confirmation.
How to Check CAT 2025 Result & Scorecard
Once released, candidates can follow these steps:
- Visit iimcat.ac.in
- Click on the CAT 2025 Scorecard link
- Login using User ID and Password
- Download and save the scorecard
⚠️ The scorecard will be available for a limited period, so downloading it early is important.
Details Mentioned on CAT 2025 Scorecard
Your CAT scorecard will include the following information:
- Candidate’s name and registration number
- Section-wise scaled score
- Overall scaled score
- Section-wise percentile
- Overall percentile
CAT Sections Explained
| Section | Full Form |
|---|---|
| VARC | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension |
| DILR | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning |
| QA | Quantitative Ability |
CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile (Expected Range)
Based on expert analysis and past data, here is an approximate score-percentile mapping:
| Overall Percentile | Expected Score Range |
|---|---|
| 99.9 | 100 – 120+ |
| 99.5 | 90 – 95 |
| 99 | 78 – 82 |
| 98 | 70 – 75 |
| 95 | 55 – 60 |
| 90 | 45 – 48 |
| 85 | 38 – 40 |
| 80 | 34 – 36 |
CAT 2025 Expected Cut-offs for Top MBA Colleges
Here’s a look at expected cut-off percentiles for some popular institutes:
| Institute | Expected Cut-off |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99+ |
| IIM Bangalore | 99+ |
| IIM Calcutta | 99+ |
| FMS Delhi | 97–99 |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 95–98 |
| MDI Gurgaon | 96+ |
| New & Baby IIMs | 90–95 |
Section-wise Good Score for CAT 2025
| Section | Good Score (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| VARC | 26–30 |
| DILR | 20–24 |
| QA | 22–26 |
Scoring well in all three sections is important, as most IIMs apply sectional cut-offs.
Category-wise CAT 2025 Cut-off Analysis (Expected)
This is one of the most searched topics right now. Below is a category-wise expected cut-off analysis for top IIMs and leading B-schools.
Overall CAT Cut-off (Expected)
| Category | Expected Percentile |
|---|---|
| General | 99–100 |
| EWS | 95–97 |
| OBC-NC | 94–96 |
| SC | 85–90 |
| ST | 80–85 |
| PwD | 75–80 |
IIM-wise Category Cut-off Trends (Approx.)
| IIM | General | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99.6 | 95 | 85 | 80 |
| IIM Bangalore | 99.5 | 95 | 85 | 80 |
| IIM Calcutta | 99.5 | 95 | 85 | 80 |
| IIM Lucknow | 99 | 93 | 85 | 80 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 97–98 | 92 | 85 | 80 |
These cut-offs are indicative, based on previous admission cycles and expert expectations.
Sectional Cut-offs (Category-wise – Expected)
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80–85 | 75–80 | 75–80 |
| OBC-NC | 70–75 | 65–70 | 65–70 |
| SC | 60–65 | 55–60 | 55–60 |
| ST | 50–55 | 45–50 | 45–50 |
Failing to clear any one sectional cut-off can affect shortlisting, even if your overall percentile is high.
What to Do After CAT 2025 Results?
Once results are declared, candidates should focus on the next stage.
Important Next Steps
- Check institute-wise cut-offs
- Track WAT / PI / GD shortlists
- Update academic and work-experience details
- Prepare for interviews
- Keep documents ready (marksheets, certificates)
Documents You Should Keep Ready
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CAT Scorecard | Admission shortlisting |
| Graduation Marksheet | Verification |
| Category Certificate (if applicable) | Reservation |
| Work Experience Proof | Selection weightage |
| ID Proof | Interview verification |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is CAT 2025 final answer key released?
Yes, the final answer key for CAT 2025 has been released on the official website.
Q2. Can I raise objections now?
No. The objection window is closed. The final answer key is binding.
Q3. When will CAT 2025 result be declared?
The result is expected in the last week of December 2025.
Q4. How can I download my CAT scorecard?
You can download it from iimcat.ac.in using your login ID and password once results are announced.
Q5. What percentile is considered safe for IIMs?
For General category candidates, 99+ percentile is considered safe for top IIMs, while newer IIMs may consider 90+.
Q6. Are sectional cut-offs important?
Yes. Even with a high overall percentile, failing to clear sectional cut-offs can lead to rejection.
Q7. Does CAT percentile guarantee admission?
No. CAT is only the first stage. Final admission depends on interviews, academics, and profile.
Final Words
The release of the CAT 2025 final answer key clearly signals that the endgame has started. While waiting for results can be stressful, this is also the right time to plan ahead, shortlist colleges realistically, and start preparing for interviews.
Keep checking the official website, stay calm, and remember — CAT is just one step in the MBA journey.